Latest news with #January6th
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Judge dismisses suit seeking to block ID of FBI agents who investigated Jan. 6 cases
A federal judge on Thursday agreed to a request by the Trump administration to dismiss a suit that sought to block the release of the names of thousands of FBI agents who worked on Jan. 6 cases. U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb, a Biden appointee, expressed sympathy for agents who went to court seeking limitations on the Trump administration after the Justice Department demanded a list of all who had done investigative work on the cases of rioters. 'Plaintiffs filed these cases in a whirlwind of chaos and fear,' Cobb wrote, adding that 'some former January 6 defendants, now pardoned and at large, called for FBI agents to be doxed (or worse).' 'Since then, the dust has settled some—and this case has evolved,' Cobb continued. FBI agents have been in court since February, filing the case shortly after eight top career FBI officials were fired, and principal Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, now nominated for a lifetime appointment to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, demanded the list. But Cobb determined that the Justice Department does not appear poised to act on agents' fears that a list would be used not only to fire agents but release their identities as an act of retribution. 'The Court ordered expedited jurisdictional discovery to cut through the chaos and allow Plaintiffs to shore up their standing allegations,' Cobb wrote. 'That discovery revealed no evidence that Defendants are on the verge of disclosing Plaintiffs' identities, nor have Plaintiffs plausibly alleged that such a disclosure is imminent. The Court must therefore dismiss Plaintiffs' disclosure-related claims.' Attorneys for the FBI Agents Association said they were prepared to return to court if the government did not fulfill its pledge. 'We are proud to defend the FBI employees who bravely investigated the January 6th attacks. The Court acknowledged that the disclosure of agents' names would endanger them and accepted the Government's claims that it would not do so. We stand ready to return to Court immediately if the Government does not live up to its obligations,' attorneys Margaret Donovan and Chris Mattei said in a statement. Bove has not denied the list will be used to review the work of the thousands of agents who played a role in the cases of Jan. 6, 2021, rioters and did not foreclose the possibility that some could be fired. Agents were also asked to fill out a questionnaire about their role in the sprawling investigation. 'No FBI employee who simply followed orders and carried out their duties in an ethical manner with respect to January 6 investigations is at risk of termination or other penalties,' Bove wrote shortly after requesting the list.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Attorney General Pam Bondi fires local federal prosecutor involved in Jan. 6 criminal cases, Leo Govoni case
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Department of Justice fired at least three prosecutors involved in U.S. Capitol riot criminal cases. 8 On Your Side obtained one of the termination letters that was signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The letter did not provide a reason for the removal from the Federal Service, effective immediately, citing only 'Article II of the United States Constitution and the laws of the United States.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 8 On Your Side has learned that U.S. Attorney General and Temple Terrace native, Pam Bondi, has fired assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Gordon. Gordon was one of many federal prosecutors who worked on cases involving the January 6th rioters. Gordon was also the lead prosecutor on the Leo Govoni case. Daughter blames Leo Govoni for dad's death after funds for chemo treatment went missing The Pinellas County businessman accused of draining $100 million from special needs trusts meant to help disabled people and their families was criminally indicted two weeks ago. Govoni's personal accountant, John Witeck, was also arrested. They two are facing 15 grand jury charges: conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, bank fraud, illegal monetary transactions, and false bankruptcy declaration. The letter we obtained is dated dated June 27, 2025. That is one day after Gordon argued in federal court for Govoni not to be released pending trial. The letter did not include a reason for termination. Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Middle District of Florida, and a spokesperson wrote, 'The case against Leo Govoni and John Witeck will proceed as scheduled.' The spokesperson would not comment on Gordon's termination. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Democrats urge spiking of Trump watchdog nominee who would ‘traumatize' workforce
Two Democratic committee leaders are urging the Senate to reject the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to lead a top whistleblower office, calling him 'unfit' for the role and arguing he would help the Trump administration 'traumatize the federal workforce and consolidate unchecked power.' Ingrassia, a former podcast host, was nominated last month to lead the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC). He has come under fire for a series of controversial remarks about Jan. 6, 2021, as well as his praise for other right-wing figures. OSC is a unique office within government, one with a dual mission to both enforce the electioneering prohibitions of the Hatch Act and to protect federal employees — fighting unlawful firings and serving as an outlet for whistleblowers. Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, said Ingrassia would not tackle either mission 'without fear or favor.' '[OSC] is an independent guardian of accountability within the executive branch. Mr. Ingrassia's loyalty to Donald Trump over the Constitution, his calls for imposing martial law and celebrating violent January 6th insurrectionists, and his close associations with antisemitic extremists all make it clear that he lacks the temperament, experience, and fundamental constitutional fidelity required to lead this office,' Garcia and Raskin, the top Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, wrote in the letter. 'He is not simply unqualified — his confirmation would pose a direct threat to federal whistleblowers, the credibility of the OSC, and the integrity of our oversight institutions.' Ingrassia was previously a writer for the Daily Caller and hosted the podcast Right On Point. He is also an attorney and served on the legal team representing self-described misogynist Andrew Tate. Ingrassia has called Tate, who has been charged with human trafficking in Romania as well as rape in the United Kingdom, the 'embodiment of the ancient ideal of excellence.' In 2020, he said it was 'time for @realDonaldTrump to declare martial law and secure his re-election.' He also said in December that Trump should 'offer reparations to the tune of $1 million per family (at least)' for Jan. 6 defendants. The letter notes that Ingrassia graduated law school three years ago and describes him as being fired from a job at the Justice Department he had at the start of the Trump administration. Various outlets have reported Ingrassia walked the halls of DOJ telling people he was the 'eyes and ears' of the White House and clashed with leadership as he pushed to hire those with 'exceptional loyalty' to Trump. Garcia and Raskin noted numerous Trump officials were cited for Hatch Act violations during Trump's first term. 'It is hard to imagine a nominee less likely to enforce the Hatch Act in a fair and even-handed way if an investigation implicated anyone close to the Trump Administration,' they wrote. The lawmakers also expressed fear for whistleblowers, who often report matters to OSC if they fear they will face retribution at their own agencies. 'When whistleblowers come forward, they are speaking truth to power. They do so at great personal risk to bring transparency where secrecy and misconduct might otherwise prevail. Yet Mr. Ingrassia has time and again made clear that he is blindly loyal to the President—a view that is utterly disqualifying for any position of public trust, but particularly one charged with defending the rights of whistleblowers,' they wrote. The White House defended their selection in a Thursday statement. 'Paul Ingrassia is a respected attorney who has served President Trump exceptionally well and will continue to do so as the next head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. The eleventh-hour smear campaign will not deter the President from supporting this nomination, and the administration continues to have full confidence in his ability to advance the President's agenda,' said White House spokesman Harrison Fields. Trump fired previous special counsel Hampton Dellinger, despite his Senate confirmation to a five-year term, amid his battle to restore fired federal workers to their posts after the Trump administration booted federal workers still in their probationary period. Dellinger, who sued to keep this job, was initially reinstated to his post, but ended his legal battle after an appeals court declined to keep him in his role while the case continued. His departure also meant the end of the OSC's battle to protect fired probationary workers, and the office has since shifted its position on the matter. The Thursday letter is the first from Garcia since his election to serve as the ranking member of the Oversight Committee. A hearing date for Ingrassia has not yet been set by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, but the lawmakers encouraged the panel to reject his nomination. 'President Trump wants to appoint Mr. Ingrassia because he knows that this nominee will treat treasonous, secessionist rhetoric as acceptable political discourse; reward extremism instead of condemning it; and work to tear down, not build up, the democratic institutions we have sworn to protect,' the two lawmakers wrote. 'The ultimate victims of Mr. Ingrassia's installation as special counsel would be the brave civil servant whistleblowers, the credibility of the federal workforce and civil servants, and the American people they serve.'
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump pardons allowed recipients to skirt more than $1.3B in restitution
President Trump's pardons and clemencies allowed recipients to get out of paying more than $1.3 billion in restitution and fines, according to a review of court records by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. The Tuesday report evaluates the financial fallout from Trump's widespread pardons, which were extended to all people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, as well as to other political donors and allies. 'Not only has President Trump issued an unprecedented number of pardons in his second term, he has used his clemency powers to take an estimated $1.3 billion away from victims and survivors of crime, allowing perpetrators to keep profiting from their crimes,' the report states. Those convicted of crimes are often ordered to pay fines as part of their sentencing, channeled into funds to offer compensation to victims as well as to cover costs otherwise borne by taxpayers. The report finds those convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol had paid just a fraction of their restitution, while the lion's share of the $1.348 billion in outstanding fees comes from those pardoned for white collar crimes. 'At the time President Trump pardoned the January 6th insurrectionists, only 15% of the $3 million in restitution ordered to victims had been paid, with the remaining $2.6 million due suddenly liquidated by the President's pardons,' the report states. 'Of course it's not just violent, cop-beating extremists in President Trump's private mob-and-militia who have been pardoned. With a far greater financial effect, President Trump's pardon spree has also swept in big-time corporate fraudsters, millionaire tax evaders, and other white-collar criminals. Thanks to President Trump's pardons, these convicted criminals now get to keep $1.3 billion in ill-gotten gains they stole from their victims and American taxpayers.' The memo notes those with clemency petitions before the president have typically paid all outstanding debt in order to show they have 'accepted responsibility for his or her criminal conduct and made restitution to its victims,' as detailed in the Justice Department manual. Trump also has the power to offer conditional pardons that require recipients to pay all outstanding restitution. Among those who no longer must pay restitution are Lewis Snoots, who was convicted of assaulting Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officer Michael Fanone, holding him down while other rioters beat the officer. Snoots was ordered to pay nearly $97,000 in restitution to MPD and another $2,000 to the Architect of the Capitol. Paul Walczak, a former nursing home executive who pleaded guilty to multiple tax crimes, was pardoned after his mother paid $1 million to attend a fundraising dinner for Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Walczak had been ordered to pay nearly $4.4 million in restitution. Walczak had been sentenced to 18 months in for stealing more than $7.4 million from his employees' tax withholdings. The report argues that sidestepping payment of restitution makes him an 'unrepentant millionaire wage thief.' Trump also pardoned dark web site Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, who was sentenced to life in prison on money laundering charges and others related to the sites' use to sell narcotics. Ulbricht's pardon means he no longer has to pay $184 million in restitution. The $1.3 billion calculation also considers the pardon of Nikola founder Trevor Milton, whose restitution had not yet been determined by a judge but who prosecutors said should pay $676 million to defrauded shareholders of the electric truck company. Beyond unpaid restitution, the Judiciary Democrats' report notes the Justice Department is seeking the return of funds that were already paid by those who stormed the Capitol, while a lawsuit by those involved is also seeking financial compensation. 'Adding insult to injury, President Trump's DOJ is now brazenly arguing in court that the federal government should strip away the $437,000 in restitution money that was actually paid to the victims and return it directly to the criminal insurrectionists, leaving victims and taxpayers to foot the bill themselves for the costs of all the extremists' violence and destruction,' it states. 'Perhaps emboldened by DOJ's stance, the primary seditious conspirators behind the January 6th insurrection now claim that the government violated their constitutional rights and have sued the government for $100 million in restitution.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Trump pardons allowed recipients to skirt more than $1.3B in restitution
President Trump's pardons and clemencies allowed recipients to get out of paying more than $1.3 billion in restitution and fines, according to a review of court records by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. The Tuesday report evaluates the financial fallout from Trump's widespread pardons, a group that includes all charged in connection with the Jan. 6 rampage at the Capitol in addition to several more recent grants given to political donors and allies. 'Not only has President Trump issued an unprecedented number of pardons in his second term, he has used his clemency powers to take an estimated $1.3 billion away from victims and survivors of crime, allowing perpetrators to keep profiting from their crimes,' the report states. Those convicted of crimes are often ordered to pay fines as part of their sentencing, channeled into funds to offer compensation to victims as well as to cover costs otherwise borne by taxpayers. The report finds those convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol had paid just a fraction of their restitution, while the lion's share of the $1.348 billion in outstanding fees comes from those pardoned for white collar crimes. 'At the time President Trump pardoned the January 6th insurrectionists, only 15% of the $3 million in restitution ordered to victims had been paid, with the remaining $2.6 million due suddenly liquidated by the President's pardons,' the report states. 'Of course it's not just violent, cop-beating extremists in President Trump's private mob-and-militia who have been pardoned. With a far greater financial effect, President Trump's pardon spree has also swept in big-time corporate fraudsters, millionaire tax evaders, and other white-collar criminals. Thanks to President Trump's pardons, these convicted criminals now get to keep $1.3 billion in ill-gotten gains they stole from their victims and American taxpayers.' The memo notes that those with clemency petitions before the president have typically paid all outstanding debt in order to show they have 'accepted responsibility for his or her criminal conduct and made restitution to its victims,' as detailed in the Justice Department manual. Trump also has the power to offer conditional pardon that requires recipients to pay all outstanding restitution. Among those who no longer must pay restitution are Lewis Snoots, who was convicted of assaulting Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officer Michael Fanone, holding him down while other rioters beat the officer. Snoots was ordered to pay nearly $97,000 in restitution to MPD and another $2,000 to the Architect of the Capitol. Paul Walczak, a former nursing home executive who pleaded guilty to multiple tax crimes, was pardoned after his mother paid $1 million to attend a fundraising dinner for Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Walczak had been ordered to pay nearly $4.4 million in restitution. Walczak had been sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing more than $7.4 million from his employees' tax withholdings. The report argues that sidestepping payment of restitution makes him an 'unrepentant millionaire wage thief.' Trump also pardoned dark web site Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, who was sentenced to life in prison on money laundering charges and others related to the sites' use to sell narcotics. Ulbricht's pardon means he no longer has to pay $184 million in restitution. The $1.3 billion calculation also considers the pardon of Nikola founder Trevor Milton, whose restitution had not yet been determined by a judge but who prosecutors said should pay $676 million to defrauded shareholders of the electric truck company. Beyond unpaid restitution, the Judiciary Democrats' report notes the Justice Department is seeking the return of funds that were already paid by those who stormed the Capitol, while a suit by those involved is also seeking financial compensation. 'Adding insult to injury, President Trump's DOJ is now brazenly arguing in court that the federal government should strip away the $437,000 in restitution money that was actually paid to the victims and return it directly to the criminal insurrectionists, leaving victims and taxpayers to foot the bill themselves for the costs of all the extremists' violence and destruction,' it states. 'Perhaps emboldened by DOJ's stance, the primary seditious conspirators behind the January 6th insurrection now claim that the government violated their constitutional rights and have sued the government for $100 million in restitution.'
